Display stands



L. W. PATTERSON Oct 6, 1964 DISPLAY STANDS 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 27. 1961 INVENTOR. LAWRE NCE W. PATTERSON BY FULWIDER MATTINGLY & HUNTLEY ATTOR NEYS 1964 L. w. PATTERSON 3, 1

DISPLAY STANDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27, 1961 Y .s @v. MR NE T IL NT TT ET TN V AU mo. MH w m m E c m N U E F R Y W B A L F ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,151,576 DISPLAY STANDS Lawrence W. Patterson, Santa Ana, Calif., assignor to Vita-Pakt Citrus Products Co., Covina, Caiif., a corporation of Caiifornia Filed Get. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 148,281 Claims. ((31. 1tl82) The present invention relates generally to display stands, but more particularly to self-service display racks for super markets and the like.

It is desirable, in accordance with present day selfservice merchandising practices, to display the salable goods on a display rack within easy reach of the purchasing public. That is, it has been found that more sales will result if the goods are very accessible rather than being out of easy reach of the potential customers. Thus, the customers view and reach must be unencumbered as much as is physically possible to insure maximum sales. However, such display stands must be so constructed as to clearly withstand the considerable weight which can be applied thereto by certain types of goods as for instance bottled and canned goods. Also, in the interest of maximum flexibility in using such display stands for various diiferent kinds and sizes of goods, it is desirable to have such stands be easily adjustable in the market place.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display stand which displays the goods within easy reach of the purchasing public.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display stand having trays which are automatically removed as they are emptied in order to render the remaining articles readily accessible to the buying public.

Another object is to provide a display stand having adjustable trays or shelves which are individually biased to out-of-the-way positions for movement individually thereto upon removal of all of the goods thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide display stands as characterized above which are adjustable for accommodating goods of various sizes and shapes.

Another object is to provide display stands as characterized above which are capable of withstanding heavy loads 'as afiorded by bottles and canned goods.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display stand as characterized above which comprises vertically disposed channel members for providing the necessary strength to withstand the exceptionally heavy loads.

Another object is to provide a display stand as characterized above wherein the trays or shelves are either self-supporting or are supported by the goods on the trays or shelves therebeneath.

Another object of this invention is to provide display stands having adjustable trays which can be disposed at substantially any desired angle to accommodate and to display to advantage various types of articles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide display stands as characterized above which are simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which are rugged and dependable in operation.

The novel features which I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The device itself, however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a display stand according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a bracket employed in the display stand of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a display stand according to the present invention, shown with various types of articles.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The embodiment chosen for illustration of the present invention comprises one or more display sections having vertically spaced trays or shelves which are adapted to retain goods of various kinds and sizes as will hereinafter be explained.

Each display section comprises a pair of vertically spaced support or channel members 10 and 12 affording a substantially coplanar support. Each of such channel members is formed with a substantially square or boxlike cross-section to provide maximum bending strength as will hereinafter appear. A longitudinal slot is formed in one side of each of said channel members by virtue of suitably arranged opposed flanges. For instance, member 10 is formed with slot 10a as a result of opposed flanges 10b and 100. In like manner, channel member 12 is formed with slot 12a by virtue of flanges 12b and 12c. Channel members 10 and 12 are so arranged that the slots 19a and 12a. are exposed to one side of the coplanar support afforded by the alignment of said members.

A mounting plate 14 is attached to the upper ends of channel members It and 12 as by soldering, welding or the like to retain the members 10 and 12 in proper spaced relation and to afiord means for mounting the display stand if desired. A similar mounting plate 16 is firmly fastened to the lower ends of members 10 and 12. Each of the mounting plates 14 and 16 is formed with suitable mounting holes as at 14a and 16a, respectively, for fastening the entire display stand to a wall or other support means. To provide additional support for the upper end portion of the display stand, it may be desirable to connect a channel member 18 between the upper end portions of members 10 and 12 as shown in FIGURE 1. As will hereinafter become more apparent, suitable finishing channel members may be em ployed along the top, bottom and sides of the coplanar support as shown at 20, 22 and 24 to provide greater rigidity and to effect a more finished appearance to the entire display stand.

Supported by channel members It? and 12 is a plurality of vertically spaced trays or shelves as shown at 2&5, 2% and 3%) of FIGURE 1. Such trays can be made in substantially any desired shape or size to accommodate any given article or articles. For instance, they may be formed of sheet metal to provide an uninterrupted surface for holding small articles as shown at 26, 28 and 31 in FIGURE 1, or they may be formed of reversely bent wire or the like to retain larger articles as shown in FIG- URE 7. As will hereinafter become more apparent, the trays may be inverted for certain purposes, and may be disposed at predetermined angles to provide different effects.

The trays 26, 28 and Eli: are identical in construction but, as will be apparent to those persons skilled in the art, this is not mandatory for successful practice of the present invention. Rather, the style of trays or shelves 28b, and a and 33b, respectively.

as shown at 25c and 28cwith respect to trays 26 and 28.

Each of the trays for use in the subject 'display'stand is pivotally mounted with respect to the upright support or channel members 14 and 12. Since the pivotal mounting means are identical for the trays only such means associated with tray 26 will be described in detail, it being realized that the same explanation pertains to the pivotal mounting structure for other trays used in the subject display stand. 7

Fixed to the opposite side walls 26a and 26b of tray 26 are a pair of mounting plates 32 and .34, respectively. Each of these mounting plates is formed with a substantially centrally located opening for receiving'a fastening bolt 35 which also extends through a suitably formed opening near the rear end of the respective side wall of tray 26. Each bolt 36 is provided with a fastening nut for holding the respective mounting plate in assembled relation on the outside of the particular tapered wall of the .tray. Additionally, each of said mounting plates 32 and 34 is formed with a plurality of angularly spaced openings pluralityof holes 34a permit adjustment of the angular relationship between the tray and its'mounting plates. As shown most clearly in FIGURE 2 of the drawings,

each mounting plate is formed with an end portion as at 34b which is curved to permit relative pivotal movement between-such mounting plate and the tray. As also shown in FIGURE '2, the tray and mounting plates may be disposed as shown in solid lineswherein the tray 26 is substantially horizontal, or such relationship may be as shown in broken or dotted lines wherein the forward portion of the tray is either higher or lower than the rearward portion thereof as desired. Such flexibility, of course, is afiorded by the aforedescribed relationship between the mounting plates 32 andr34 and the tray 26 Each of the mounting plates 32 and 34 is formed with a portion, as shown at'34c, which extends rearwardly beyond the end of. the side wall, into the hollowopen interior of the respective channel member. Also, each of the mounting plates is formed with an upstanding mounting stab as shown at 34d in FIGURE 2.

The mounting plates 32 and 34' are connected to bracket 1 assemblies 40 which are positioned within the. hollow upright channel memberslt') and 12. As shown most clearly in FIGURES 3 and 5, each bracket assembly 40 is formed with a substantially square or rectangular main body portion 40a which slidably fits within the square or rectangular, opening of the respective channel member. Each bracket assembly 40 is also formed with a pair of mount- 'ing ears 40b and 400 which extend outwardly through the longitudinal'slot in the respective channel members.

Such bracket assemblies are preferably formed of sheet metal to enable the various parts of the bracket to be formed at a relatively small cost. However, such construction is not mandatory for successful practice of the present invention since it is fully realized that substantially any other method of construction could be employed if'desired. V 7 Each mounting bracket is provided with suitable fastening means as for instance a fastening bolt 42 and nut 44 therefor, whereby the bracket may be firmly secured to the respective channel member. To attach the fastening means in proper relation to the bracket 40, the rear wall of main body portion 49a thereof is provided with a pair of tabs 419d and 4fie which are bent inwardly for retention of nut 44. As will be readily apparent to those persons skilled in the art, nut 44 should be placed within the main body portion 45a of bracket 40 after tab 40d has been bent inwardly but before tab 402 has been so formed. Thereafter, as tab 4% is bent inwardly it will engage nut 44 so as to retain it in a non-rotatable position relative to bracket 4! Bolt 42 may be provided with a Washer as at 42a, and will extend through the opening 49 in main body portion 40a of bracket 49 for engagement with nut 44. As will hereinafter become more apparent, the head of nut 42 is engageable with the opposed flanges of the respective channel member to retain the bracket 40 in the proper position.

A pivot or mountingrod 48 extends through suitable openings formed in mounting tabs 4% and 40c of the brackets in each of the channel members 10 and 12,

through the openings formed in the upstanding tabs of i the mounting plates 32 and 34. The tabs of the mount ing plates are individually positioned between the outwardly extending mounting ears 40b and 4tlc of the respective brackets. The opposite ends of rod 43 may be swaged or provided with any suitable means for, preventing tray, torsion spring 50 overcomes the weight of saidtray so as to automatically. pivot it into the broken line position shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. In'thi's manher, the tray is immediately moved outof operating position to make the articles onother trays more accessible.

In the interest of simplicity of manufacture, each of the mounting ears 4% and 40c of all of the brackets 40 is formed with an opening 40g for receiving the end portion 50b of spring 50 even though only one such opening is required for a given tray. As shown in FIGURE '7, the'aforedescribed monnt-- ing arrangement may be employed on wire trays. Such arrangement is shown as not including the aforedescribed mounting plates 32 and 34, the tray merely beingfastened to a pivotal shaft '48 which is mounted in a pair of bracket members 740' as abovedescribed. Each of the wire trays as at 52 is supported by the products, as for instance the bottle goods shown in FIGURE 7, on the trays therebeneath. That is, the tray 52 is supported in a horizontal position by the various cartons of bottle goods identified as 54. However, asfsoon as carton 56 on top of tray 52 has been removed, the tor sion spring acting against said tray automatically rotates it iuto'a vertical position. This, of course, exposes'the merchandise on the tray immediately therebeneath as for instance the cartons of bottle goods 54 shown in FIGURE 7. This procedure continues, until all of the articles have been removed from the display stand or 7 until the various trays have been replenished.

As also shown in FIGURE-'7, the'trays formed of sheet material may be employed in an inverted manner as shown at 60. In this event, the mounting plates 34 must be reversely mounted, on the tray in orderv to provide the self-supporting features described above. In

this regard, it should be noted that orient the primary 7 V distinctions between the wire tray 52 and the sheet metal 7 trays as at 58' and 69 is that the latter trays are selfporting but rather requires support means therebeneath as above explained. Whereas the tray 58 provides a large surface having upstanding side walls for retaining the goods or articles thereon, by inverting such tray as shown at 60, a substantially flat surface is provided.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides an extremely flexible display stand having a plurality of trays which are rotatably fastened to a pair of upstanding channel members. Also, such trays may be of substantially any configuration or style in accordance with the type of articles to be displayed. Further, the resulting display stand is exceptionally strong in that the channel members ofler considerable resistance to bending due to the square or box-like cross-section.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, 1 am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention itself therefore is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A display stand for supporting articles comprising, spaced support members each formed with an elongated slot, a bracket adjustably fixed within the slot of each of said support members, a tray, and means for connecting said tray to said brackets including a rod mounted in said brackets and pivotally carrying mounting plates adjustably connected to said tray for varying the angle of disposition thereof on said support members, said means further including biasing means urging said tray about said rod to a position against said support members when not in use.

2. A display stand according to claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a torsion spring on said rod having one end fixed relative to said brackets and the other end fixed to said tray.

3. A display stand for articles comprising, an upright substantially coplanar support comprising spaced upright channel members each formed with an elongated vertical slot formed by opposed flanges, said channel members being arranged so that all of said slots are exposed to one side of said coplanar support, a bracket within each of said channel members including a portion extending through the slot therein and means for adjustably fastening said bracket to said flanges, a substantially horizontally disposed rod interconnecting said bracket portions, a tray for supporting articles, and means for connecting said tray to said rod and for varying the angle of disposition of said tray with respect to said support members, said connecting means comprises a pair of connecting plates pivotally mounted on said rod and adjustably fastened to said tray.

4. A display stand for articles comprising, an upright substantially coplanar support comprising spaced upright channel members each formed with an elongated vertical slot formed by opposed flanges, said channel mem-' bers being arranged so that all of said slots are exposed to one side of said coplanar support, a bracket Within each of said channel members including a portion extending through the slot therein and means for adjustably fastening said bracket to said flanges, a substantially horizontally disposed rod interconnecting said bracket portions, a tray for supporting articles, a pair of connecting plates pivotally mounted on said rod and adjustably fastened to said tray, and biasing means interposed between one of said bracket portions and said tray for urging said tray into a vertical position against said channel members when the weight of articles has been removed.

5. A display stand for articles comprising:

an upright substantially coplanar support having a pair of spaced hollow upright channel members, the front side of each being formed with an elongated vertical slot defined by a pair of opposed flanges;

a bracket assembly within each of said channel members, each said bracket assembly having an open main body vertically slidable within its respective channel member and formed with a pair of forwardly extending mounting cars which project outwardly through the vertical slot of its respective channel member, a nut non-rotatably carried within said body and having a width greater than that of said vertical slots and a bolt extending through the slot of its respective channel member into said nut, with tightening of said bolt against the flanges of said respective channel members locking said bracket against vertical movement relative to said respective channel member;

a tray for supporting said articles, said tray extending forwardly of said channel members and having its rear end pivotally secured to the mounting ears of said bracket assemblies;

means interposed between said bracket assemblies and said tray for varying the vertical angle of said tray with respect to said bracket assemblies;

and spring means interposed between one of said bracket assemblies and the rear portion of said tray for urging said tray into a vertical position against said channel members when the weight of said articles has been removed from said tray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 945,280 Lindberg J an. 4, 1920 2,788,902 Nowicki Apr. 16, 1957 2,992,742 Pendergrast July 18, 1961 

1. A DISPLAY STAND FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES COMPRISING, SPACED SUPPORT MEMBERS EACH FORMED WITH AN ELONGATED SLOT, A BRACKET ADJUSTABLY FIXED WITHIN THE SLOT OF EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, A TRAY, AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID TRAY TO SAID BRACKETS INCLUDING A ROD MOUNTED IN SAID BRACKETS AND PIVOTALLY CARRYING MOUNTING PLATES ADJUSTABLY CONNECTED TO SAID TRAY FOR VARYING THE ANGLE OF DISPOSITION THEREOF ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, SAID MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING BIASING MEANS URGING SAID TRAY ABOUT SAID ROD TO A POSITION AGAINST SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS WHEN NOT IN USE. 